미국, 신형 호위함 후보로 일본, 한국, 터키 호위함 검토

[위종민]

FFG-62 나가리내고 커터를 도입하네 마네 하더니, 또 다른 나라 군함 도입 검토를 하네요. 2척을 해외 조선소에서 구매하고 그 뒤 미국에서 건조하는 걸 검토하고 있다고 합니다. 

트럼프 집권기엔 저 사업에 끼는게 맞는지 모르겠습니다. 얼마나 뜯어먹으려고 할 지.. 

일본·한국·튀르키예 군함, 미 해군 신형 호위함 경쟁 후보로 검토

Mallory Shelbourne, Sam LaGrone

2026년 9월 1일 오후 5시 10분 - 업데이트: 2026년 9월 1일 오후 5시 57분

일본, 한국, 튀르키예 군함들이 새로운 미 해군 호위함 후보로 검토되고 있다. 일본 해상자위대, 튀르키예 해군, 대한민국 해군 사진

백악관과 미 해군이 새로운 군함 함급을 위해 한국, 일본, 튀르키예의 호위함 설계를 검토하고 있다고 USNI News가 확인했다.

논의 내용을 잘 아는 업계 관계자 3명은 이번 주 USNI News에, 트럼프 행정부가 함대 규모를 신속히 확대하려는 구상의 일환으로 국제 군함 경쟁을 실시할 경우 최대 2척까지 외국 조선소에서 건조한 뒤 미국 내 조선소로 건조를 전환하는 방안이 포함될 수 있다고 확인했다. 이는 100년이 넘는 미국의 국내 해군 함정 건조 관행을 깨는 조치가 될 것이다.

해외에서 호위함을 구매할 가능성은 지난 8월 백악관이 ‘국가안보상 이익’에 따른 면제를 발동해 외국에서 건조된 군함의 해군 취역을 금지하는 미국 법률을 우회함으로써 국방부가 외국 설계를 검토할 수 있도록 길을 연 메모를 발표한 데 따른 것이다.

USNI News가 검토한 메모 문구에 따르면, 백악관이 해당 메모를 발표한 뒤 헝 카오 해군장관 직무대행은 해군 연구·개발·획득 차관보 윌리엄 마한에게 해외 전투함, 롤온·롤오프 화물선, 군수지원사령부용 해상 통합화물보급(CONSOL) 유조선에 대한 연구를 감독하도록 지시했다. 이 평가는 2026년 11월 12일까지 완료될 예정이다.

관계자 3명은 USNI News에 검토 중인 해외 설계에 미쓰비시중공업이 제작한 FFM 모가미급 유도미사일 호위함의 수출형과 여러 한국 조선업체가 건조하는 충남급 유도미사일 호위함이 포함된다고 말했다. 관계자 2명은 지난 7월 NATO 정상회의를 계기로 튀르키예 지도부와 도널드 트럼프 대통령 간 대화가 이뤄진 뒤, 여러 튀르키예 조선소가 건조하는 이스탄불급 유도미사일 호위함도 후보군에 포함됐다고 USNI News에 밝혔다.

이스탄불급 유도미사일 호위함. 튀르키예 해군 사진

백악관 예산관리국에 보낸 논평 요청에는 즉각 답변이 없었다. 해군 연구·개발·획득 차관보실 대변인은 USNI News에 보낸 성명에서 미국 조선업을 강화하기 위해 동맹국을 활용하려는 백악관의 노력을 인정했지만, 신형 호위함을 위한 공개 경쟁 가능성에 대해서는 직접 언급하지 않았다.

론 플랜더스 대령은 화요일 USNI News에 “대통령은 동맹국의 입증된 조선 기술과 산업 전문성을 활용하는 것을 포함해 국내 조선 능력을 공격적으로 확대하라고 해군에 지시했다”고 말했다. “우리는 미국 조선소 내 장기 투자, 기술 이전, 인력 확충을 보장하면서 함정을 더 빨리 인도하라는 대통령의 의도를 이행하기 위한 방안들을 적극적으로 개발하고 있다.”

이번 호위함 계약은 이른바 ‘핀란드 모델’ 접근법을 추진할 가능성이 있으며, 이 경우 최대 초기 2척까지 외국 조선소에서 건조를 시작한 뒤 미국 내 시설과 조선 인프라에 대한 외국 투자가 뒤따를 수 있다. 이 개념은 미 해안경비대의 북극안보커터 사업 방식을 따른 것으로, 핀란드 조선소가 캐나다 설계를 바탕으로 초기 선체를 건조한 뒤 미국 조선소로 건조를 전환하는 방식이다.

러셀 보우트 예산관리국장은 공개 연설에서 핀란드 모델을 높이 평가하면서 미국 해군 조선소 전반에 더 많은 조선 경쟁이 필요하다고 주장해왔다.

호위함은 현재 미 해군 수상전력의 능력 공백을 메울 수 있다. 해군 지도부는 고강도 해전을 위해 설계된 알레이 버크급 유도미사일 구축함이 호위함 같은 덜 복잡한 플랫폼으로도 수행할 수 있는 기본 임무에 자주 투입되고 있다고 지적해왔다.

모가미급 유도미사일 호위함. 일본 해상자위대 사진

전투함 획득담당 부책임자 브라이언 멧커프 소장은 7월 소셜미디어 영상에서 “해군은 한 가지 크기의 함정만으로 운용될 수 없다”고 말했다. “호위함이 그 공백을 메울 것이다. 덜 분쟁적인 해역에서 사용할 수 있고, 고가치 자산 호위에도 사용할 수 있다. 호위함이 메울 수 있는 역할은 온갖 종류가 있으며, 이를 통해 구축함은 고강도 임무에 집중할 수 있다.”

지난해 말 당시 존 펠런 해군장관은 컨스텔레이션급(FFG-62) 유도미사일 호위함 사업을 취소하고 대신 해안경비대의 국가안보커터를 기반으로 한 초계 호위함을 만드는 FFX 사업을 추진했다. 컨스텔레이션급은 해군의 수상 기반 대잠전 능력을 담당할 예정이었다. HII의 잉걸스 조선소는 첫 FFX 호위함을 위한 선행생산 작업을 시작했지만 아직 계약을 수주하지는 못했다.

지난달 백악관 메모는 해외 함정 건조를 추진하기 위해 국가안보상 이익에 따른 면제를 발동했지만, 의회는 행정부가 이 예외 조항을 활용할 수 있는 권한을 제한하려 하고 있다. 상원 군사위원회는 2027회계연도 국방정책법안 초안에서 백악관의 해외 군함 건조 추진을 제한하기 위해 해당 면제를 삭제했다. 하원 군사위원회의 법안 초안에는 외국 조선소에서 건조된 미국 군함 구매 계약에 어떠한 승인 예산도 사용할 수 없도록 하는 수정안이 포함됐다. 의원들은 아직 이 법안의 최종안을 공개하지 않았다.

충남급 유도미사일 호위함 개념도. 대한민국 해군 그래픽

2027회계연도 예산안은 예산관리국이 주도하는 해외 군함 설계 추진 계획을 처음 공개했다. 의회에서의 향방이 불확실한 조정법안 부분에는 해외 군함 설계 연구를 위한 18억5천만 달러가 포함됐다. 해군 관계자들은 이 연구가 일본과 한국으로부터 군함을 구매하는 방안에 초점을 맞추고 있다고 USNI News에 밝혔다.

지난 몇 년 동안 바이든 행정부와 트럼프 행정부 모두에서 해군 관계자들이 한국 조선소를 방문했다. 펠런은 지난해 해군장관 재임 중 한국의 여러 조선소를 방문했다.

현재 해군에서 조선 분야 선임고문으로 근무 중인 퇴역 3성 장군 리처드 브레켄리지는 8월 말 여러 조선소를 방문하기 위해 한국에 있었다고 Business Korea가 보도했다.

7월에는 미 하원 세출위원회 국방소위원회 대표단이 한국의 HD현대와 한화오션 조선소를 방문했다고 한국 통신사 연합뉴스가 보도했다.

튀르키예와 아시아 조선업체들 외에도 유럽의 미국 동맹국들은 다양한 호위함을 건조하고 있다. 위스콘신주의 컨스텔레이션급 호위함 건조업체 핀칸티에리 마리네트 마린은 이탈리아와 프랑스 해군이 운용하고 여러 국가에 수출된 FREMM 다목적 호위함을 기반으로 설계했다.

Mallory Shelbourne, Sam LaGrone

Mallory Shelbourne과 Sam LaGrone은 USNI News의 취재기자다.

Japanese, South Korean, Turkish Warships Under Consideration for New U.S. Frigate Competition - USNI News

Japanese, South Korean, Turkish Warships Under Consideration for New U.S. Frigate Competition - USNI News

Japanese, South Korean, Turkish Warships Under Consideration for New U.S. Frigate Competition

Mallory Shelbourne and Sam LaGrone

September 1, 2026 5:10 PM - Updated: September 1, 2026 5:57 PM

Japanese, South Korean and Turkish warships are under consideration for the new U.S. frigate. JMSDF, Turkish Navy and ROKN photos

The White House and U.S. Navy are considering frigate designs from South Korea, Japan and Turkey for a new class of warships, USNI News has learned.

An international warship competition could include building up to two of the ships in foreign shipyards before transitioning to domestic yards as part of the Trump administration’s push to rapidly expand the fleet, three industry sources familiar with the deliberations confirmed to USNI News this week. The move would break with more than a century of U.S. domestic naval construction.

Potentially buying frigates abroad follows an August White House memo that opened the door for the Pentagon to consider foreign designs by invoking a “national security interest” waiver to bypass a U.S. law prohibiting foreign-built warships from entering naval service.

After the White House issued the memo, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao directed the office of the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition William Mahan to oversee a study of international combatants, roll-on, roll-off cargo vessels and consolidated cargo replenishment at sea (CONSOL) tankers for Military Sealift Command, according to memo language reviewed by USNI News. That assessment is due Nov. 12, 2026.

Three sources told USNI News that the international designs under consideration include the export version of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ FFM Mogami-class guided-missile frigate and the Chungnam-class guided-missile frigate built by a variety of South Korean shipbuilders. The Istanbul-class guided-missile frigate built by several Turkish shipyards is also in the mix after a conversation between Turkish leadership and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of July’s NATO summit, two sources told USNI News.

An Istanbul-class guided-missile frigate. Turkish Navy photo

A request for comment to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget was not immediately returned. In a statement to USNI News, a spokesperson for the Navy’s ASN RDA acknowledged the White House’s effort to utilize allies to bolster U.S. shipbuilding but did not directly address the potential for an open competition for a new frigate.

“The President has directed the Navy to aggressively increase domestic shipbuilding capacity, including leveraging the proven shipbuilding skills and industrial expertise of our allies,” Capt. Ron Flanders told USNI News on Tuesday. “We are actively developing options to fulfill the President’s intent to deliver ships faster while ensuring long-term investment, technology transfer, and workforce expansion within United States shipyards.”

The frigate deal could push for the so-called “Finland model” approach in which construction would likely start in a foreign yard for up to the first two hulls ahead of a foreign investment into U.S. facilities and shipbuilding infrastructure. The concept follows the U.S. Coast Guard approach to the Arctic Security Cutter in which the Finnish shipyards are building the initial hulls based on Canadian designs and then transitioning construction to a U.S. shipyard.

Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought has touted the Finland model in public speeches, calling for more competition in shipbuilding across the U.S. naval yards.

The frigate fits a current capability gap in the Navy’s surface force. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, designed for high-end naval warfare, are often used for basic missions that less sophisticated platforms like a frigate could accomplish, service leaders have said.

A Mogami-class guided-missile frigate. JMSDF photo

“The Navy can’t operate with only one size ship,” deputy program acquisition executive for combatants Rear Adm. Brian Metcalf said in a video on social media in July. “The frigate will fill that gap. They can be used in less contentious waters. They can be used as high-value escorts. There are all kinds of things the frigate can fill the gap for and allow destroyers to execute the high-end mission set.”

Late last year, then-Secretary of the Navy John Phelan cancelled the Constellation-class (FFG-62) guided-missile frigate program and instead pushed the FFX program to create a patrol frigate based on the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter. The Constellation-class was slated to fulfill the Navy’s surface-based anti-submarine warfare capability. HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has started preproduction work for the first FFX frigate but has not been awarded a contract.

While last month’s White House memo invokes the national security interest waiver to pursue shipbuilding abroad, Congress is seeking to curtail the executive branch’s ability to use this exception. In draft language of its Fiscal Year 2027 defense policy bill, the Senate Armed Services Committee axed the waiver in an effort to limit the White House’s pursuit of foreign warship construction. The House Armed Services Committee’s draft of the policy bill included an amendment that would prevent any authorized funding from going toward contracts purchasing an American warship constructed in a foreign yard. Lawmakers have yet to release the final version of that legislation.

Concept art of a Chungnam-class guided-missile frigate. ROKN graphic

The FY 2027 budget proposal first unveiled the effort, led by OMB, to pursue foreign warship designs. The reconciliation portion of the submission – which has an uncertain future on Capitol Hill – included $1.85 billion for a foreign warship design study. The study focused on purchasing warships from Japan and South Korea, Navy officials told USNI News.

Over the last few years, Navy officials in both the Biden and Trump administrations have visited South Korean shipyards. Phelan went to several yards in South Korea last year during his stint as Navy secretary.

Richard Breckenridge, a retired three-star who is currently serving as a senior advisor of shipbuilding in the Navy, was in South Korea at the end of August to stop at multiple shipyards, Business Korea reported.

In July a U.S. delegation from the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee visited HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean yards in South Korea, according to Korean wire service Yonhap.

In addition to Turkish and Asian shipbuilders, U.S. allies in Europe build a wide range of frigates. Wisconsin’s Constellation-class frigate builder Fincantieri Marinette Marine based its design on the widely exported FREMM multi-purpose frigate in use by the Italian and French navies.

Mallory Shelbourne and Sam LaGrone

Mallory Shelbourne and Sam LaGrone are USNI News staff writers.